The one that got away..

Yesterday I woke up to the sun peaking through my window, when I moved the shades and saw nothing but blue sky I knew I had to go fishing. I grabbed some breakfast and headed up Rock creek again. I didn't take me long to get into some fish. The first three were white fish then I found some trout.

 Doesn't get much better then this.. 

And this..

I went back to my car and headed down river in search for rising fish. I was able to find some right on the bank of the road. After casting a few patterns at them with no success I decided to go back to nymphing. I walked up to this log jam that the river ran around and dumped into a nice pool. On my fourth drift my indicator went down and I set the hook, the fish went bonkers and took off up river around the log jam. I fought the fish around a few logs but the fish shook the hook and got away. I got a few looks at the fish during the fight and it was a nice brown around 16 Inches. Needless to say I will be back to that spot another day. 

Cody, Alec and I are still planning our trip for spring break. We have run into a few problems with weather at some of the destinations we wanted to visit but I will keep you updated.

Sunday at Rock Creek

I unfortunately didn't end up going to the Missouri last weekend because I wanted to save my money for the spring break trip, Destination: TBA. Sunday Cody, his friend DJ from California and I headed up to Rock Creek which is about 30 miles out of Missoula. The sun was shinning and temps where in the 60's. We traveled up the rough, icy, rut filled road that runs parallel to rock creek until we felt like it was the right spot. We got out of the car and started to rig up our rods. I was debating bringing two rods, 1 for streamer fishing and 1 for nymphing. There was a nice looking pool directly below were we pulled off the road so I went down to see if the fish would eat a streamer.

I didn't get any hits so I made the decision to only bring a nymphing rod. We started fishing up river and it wasn't long before Cody hooked up with a fish.

Fish on!

Showin' a little head

It was a little while longer before I hooked up with my first fish but it was a wild little guy. He put up a good little fight with 3 jumps before I got him into the net. We fished for a solid 5 hours and couldn't have asked for a better day. DJ was doing everything right but just couldn't hook up with a fish. I ended the day with 2 fish landed and a couple others lost and Cody ended up with 10 or so. One of my favorite things about Rock Creek is that its a smaller river compared to other rivers in Montana like the Bitterroot, Clark Fork, Blackfoot and Missouri. It was nice to get back to my roots fishing pockets and little seams just like the ones im used to fishing back in Vermont. It was a great day to be out on the water with good weather, good people and good fishing. 

 DJ and Cody down river

Little Rainbow

Cody's photography

The weather tomorrow is shaping up to be like sunday and I think me and Alec might head up rock creek. 

"Hell week"

This last week I had 4 test, Organic Chemistry, Biology, Anthropology and Math. It was the hardest week of college I have had yet, Long nights of studying, doing homework and tests all week. The hell week is over and I feel like I did good on all the test. But the real good news is that im headed to the Missouri River with my friend Cody and his friend from California. The temperatures are supposed to be in the high 50's so hopefully we find some midges hatching and some active fish. Otherwise I know ill be tossing streamers all day. We are headed out tomorrow morning around 545am and hope to be there before 830. Stay tuned for the report from the Missouri!

The MO

Back on the river

Today after Organic Chem class I checked my mail and my net came in that I got myself for my birthday. I finished up some work for biology lab and hit the river. Mother nature was not being very cooperative when I first arrived at the rivers edge. The winds were gusting at 30-40mph and it was raining a little bit. I headed down a side channel to try to get out of the wind. The wind mellowed down as I walked down the channel, I fished a few promising runs and came up with 2 white fish. I got to test the new net out, however it wasn't with the beautiful trout I was looking for. A fish is a fish though and I got to test out the new reel and some cool flys from VermontFlyGuys.

 Filling up the streamer box

 Whats on the menu?

 Catch & Release

"My Arsenal"

It felt great to get back on the water even though the weather wasn't that great. I have 3 more test this week then I will have two weeks free for fishing(6 days on the Missouri) Its time to buckle down and study so I can enjoy my 2 week break later. Speaking of studying I better get back to that... 

Happy Birthday

Yesterday March 19,2012 I grew another year older.. I've been wondering around this earth for 20 years now. Its hard to believe im already 20, time is going by faster everyday.. I woke up in the morning with 4 classes and a biology test in my way of relaxing on my birthday. My day got a little better when I got a call at breakfast from the fly shop letting me know my reel was in that my dad got me for my birthday.(THANKS DAD) I got through all of my classes and headed to the shop to pick up the reel. When I got back I checked my mail and my mom had sent me a birthday cake! (THANKS MOM) I also got the flys I had ordered from VermontFlyGuys! They are looking pretty tasty! I ended the day by enjoying some cake with friends and studying for my Organic Chemistry exam on Wednesday.

 Orvis Access Mid Arbor II

 Happy Birthday To Me

 The delicious cake

   Vermont Fly Guys "Pike Treats"

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Haven't got out on the river in over 5 days...Im having some serious withdrawals.. The weather is nasty right now, lots of snow, rain, wind and fog. Not the best fishing conditions to say the least. I hope to get out on the river tomorrow rain or shine. But for now Im drinking Jameson, tying flys and relaxing.

 "Green drank"

Lame weather, Low visibility

 Im also anxiously awaiting a custom order of flys from Vermont Fly Guys. They look f***ing sweeet! Got both pike and trout snacks, check em out.

Dreaming of this...

Trico's on the Missouri 

And this...

Spring Break destination.. 

Missouri River for 6 days!

Countdown:14 days

School >fishing...Just this week..

I haven't been fishing to much this week, I've been concentrating more on the academics side of life at the University of Montana...I know surprising right? Between trips to the library and classes I have been able to squeeze in some mountain biking though. The weather has been alright lately, lots of overcast days with a little rain in the afternoon,temps. in the 40s. This weekend I plan on getting out on the river though..hopefully.. If the nightlife doesn't get to wild..

 Ridin' on 27s

Bitterroot Trip

A little video I put together of my trip to the Bitterroot River after class Thursday 3-08-12.

Bitterroot Success

Thursday afternoon when i got out of class at 1 there wasn't a cloud in the sky and it was 60 degrees. I packed up my fishing stuff and headed to the bitterroot river. I got to a nice run and drifted my nymph through about 15 times and then my indicator dropped and I set the hook. This fish put up the best fight I've had yet in Montana, taking drag out on 8 separate occasions. This fish just wouldn't give up i would get it to were I could see it and then zinngg it took off. I finally landed the fish, it was a 19 inch rainbow. The pictures just dont justify how big this fish actually was.

The Release

I made a few more cast then headed down stream. I found some promising looking water and made a cast. About halfway through the drift it hooked up with another nice fish. It took off into the shallow water and jumped! I got it back down in the water and fought it for a little longer. I got it to shore and snapped a few pics.

 Fatty

That was it for that day. Yesterday Alec and I went back to the bitterroot again. I caught 3 white fish and Alec caught a bunch of white fish and 1 trout. It was another nice day in the high 60's. The fishing is getting better and im sure by next weekend it will be even more insane. 

JOB????

This morning at 5am I went to a job interview at the UPS shipping warehouse. It was early but I had my coffee and was ready to go. One other kid and I got a tour of the warehouse by the manager. After the tour we each had separate interviews and they said they might call me later for another meeting. Not long after I got back to my dorm I got the phone call for the second interview tomorrow at 615am. Don't know what it means but im optimistic. 

I could really use this job to pay for my trout bum activities and an apartment for this summer? and next year. Wish me luck

A sign of Spring? I dont' know but I love this weather!

I woke up early again sunday morning expecting blue skys and high temperatures. Me and Alec packed up our gear and headed to the car to go pick up Cody. I opened the front door to the dorms greeted by a warm breeze and that blue sky I was looking for. It was 40 degrees before 9 o'clock and it was predicted to get in the high 50's. Alec, Cody and I hit the road to the bitterroot, we had to stop in the town of Hamilton to meet up with a guy Cody and Alec had met on the Missouri River a couple weekends ago. They were going to fish with him up river for the day and I was going down on my on adventure.

Sun peeking over "The M"

The root

The day started off slow with no fish in the first 3 runs. I started to fish this slow deep run along the bank and on my first drift my indicator went under and I set the hook. The fish gave me a few head shakes and was gone... I continued fishing that run and after about 10 more drifts I hooked up with a nice cutthroat of about 13 inches. That was the theme of the day Cutties. I fished the rest of the day in a T-shirt which I haven't done since August, temperatures reached the 60's! It was a beautiful day on the river, I ended up with a couple fish and a sun burn on my neck.

 Bitterroot Cutthroat

 My dream house

 Mountains and Cutties

On my way back up river to meet up with Alec, Cody and Bob I walked up on a group of deer crossing the river. I was pretty cool how the went single file across the river. Just another reason why I love Montana!

 You go first.. No you go first.

Follow me

Single file everyone

I met up with the guys and we were all in need of a lot of food. Bob knew a place in town were we could get a huge family size pizza and breadsticks on a college kid budget. We scarfed down the pizza and talked about fishing and some more fishing. We paid the bill, said our goodbyes to bob and hit the road back to Missoula. This week is supposed to be beautiful but I gotta take care of business with school before I hit the river. 

Chasing Skwalas with some "BWO's"

This morning I woke up early hoping to get out on the river early to fully take advantage of the mid 40 degree weather. Alec, Cody and I stopped in at the Hob Nob for a good hearty breakfast before we hit the river. We finished up breakfast and hit the fly shop for some last minute necessities. 

Alec puttin' some air in his tire

We hit the river and fished for about 5 hours before our stomachs told us to head back to the car. Cody and Alec got into a lot of nice fish in this one run, each landing 4+ fish. I fished in another spot and ended up hooking up with and fighting 4 fish but they all spit the hook and got away. It was a nice warm day on the river with a lot of action even though not all the action was at the end of my line it was still a great day. Tomorrow is looking promising with highs in the upper 40's. Me and Alec decided to tie some more trout food for tomorrows adventures. Oh ya and we had a few PBR's.

 Blue Ribbon

 Yumm..

 mmm..

mmm..